Selvage forming mechanism



INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 2, 1965 K. J. HALL SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 10, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l KENNETH J. HALL [0mg March 2, 1965 K. J. HALL SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 INVENTOH KENNETH \1 HALL ATTORNEY March 2, 1965 K. J. HALL 3,171,443

SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM M 266 264 i2 FIG 27 25| INVENTOR KENNETH J. HALL ATTORNEY March 2, 1965 K. J. HALL SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 FIG. 35

FIG. 24

KENNETH J- HALL m T N E v W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,171,443 SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM Kenneth J. Hall, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Corporation, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,671 10 Claims. ((31. 139-54) This invention relates to a selvage and mechanism for producing it in a loom operating preferably with a stationary weft supply and having means, such as a shuttle, to draw the weft into a warp shed. The weft in such looms is frequently laid in as separate, disconnected picks of weft. The invention, however, is not limited to looms operating with shuttles, or looms which necessarily lay separate picks of weft.

This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application entitled Means for Making Selvage in a Loom, Serial No. 248,411, filed December 27, 1962, now abandoned.

The invention is illustrated herein in connection with a selvaging unit or mechanism for operation with crossing and non-crossing pairs of selvage warps. This mechanism is not claimed herein, but is the subject matter of copending application Serial No. 335,130.

My prior Patent No. 2,918,949 shows a selvage for a woven fabric wherein two pairs of selvage warps are manipulated and crossed in such manner as to form a tight grip on the weft threads of the fabric. In that patcut the four selvage warps for an edge of the cloth are crossed to form a shed for each pick of weft. It has been found that a selvage made in this manner forms a pronounced bead along the cloth which is likely to be sheared off during the cloth finishing operation.

It is an important object of the present invention to correct this condition by reducing the number of crossings of the selvage warps. This result is accomplished by holding the selvage warp sheds open sufiiciently long to receive two or more Weft threads instead of the single weft threads as set forth in the aforesaid patent. By holding the shed open as mentioned there will be fewer crossings of the selvage warps with a resultant reduced amount of warp in the selvage. As an example, if three weft threads are in a single selvage Warp shed, then for the amount of selvage represented by this shed there will be two less crossings, and therefore considerably less bulk of warp, than would be present if the teaching of the aforesaid patent were followed.

A further advantage growing out of the use of multiple wefts in a shed will be apparent from a comparison of the degree to which several wefts in one shed can be accommodated relative to the degree possible with the same number of wefts each in a single shed. As shown in the patent mentioned, the warps cross for each weft and are therefore between adjacent wefts and prevent the latter from being pressed close to each other. Also any two wefts are separated by two spaces, one above and one below, their points of closest approach. When two or more wefts are placed in a single open warp shed and the shed is then closed, as contemplated herein, the selvage warps force the wefts into the spaces mentioned. The wefts have assigned to them less total space than that which the same number of wefts would require if they were each in a single shed. A result of this deformation of the wefts is that the selvage is thinner than it could be if made according to the patent mentioned.

When the warp shed is held open for two or more picks of the loom the ends of the weft threads in the shed will not be held in normal condition as would be true if the shed closed every pick. It is a further object of the invention to provide a holding means for the weft threads during the time they are in an open shed. This holding "ice means is shown herein as a plate like device having a rearwardly opening slot to receive the wefts as they are advanced by the forwardly moving cloth.

The invention will be described by reference to the accompanying drawings which show two forms of the invention and wherein FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a loom having the selvage forming mechanism applied to it.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the right-hand end of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a detail side elevation of the selvage forming unit and connected parts as seen looking in the direction of arrow 3, FIGURE 1, on an enlarged scale,

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation taken from the right-hand side of FIGURE 1 showing the source of the selvage warps, the selvage warp controlling unit including the deflector blocks, the needles, and the lay, beat-up reed and shuttle, all looking in the direction of arrow 4, FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation looking in the direction of arrow 5, FIGURE 3, parts being broken away,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical section on line 66, FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 is a detail vertical section on line 77, FIGURE 6,

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 88, FIGURE 5,

FIGURES 9 and 10 are Views similar to FIGURE 8 but with the parts in difierent positions,

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view showing the needles and the positively moved crossing warp member and warp moved deflector,

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged vertical section on line 1212, FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged plan view of the lower right-hand part of FIGURE 2,

FIGURES 14 and 15 are vertical sections on lines 14- I4 and 1515, respectively, FIGURE 13,

FIGURES 1621 are diagrammatic views showing the operation of the deflector blocks and the control they exercise over the crossing selvage threads, and

FIGURE 22 is an enlarged section on line 2222, FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 23 is a plan view of the right-hand temple with one form of selvage guide plate attached thereto,

FIGURES 24 and 25 are side elevations of the weft guide means looking in the direction of arrows 24 and 25, FIGURE 23,

FIGURE 26 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2626, FIGURE 25,

FIGURE 27 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom jaw of the guide means shown in FIGURE 25,

FIGURE 28 is a side elevation of a second form of guide means,

FIGURE 29 is a plan view of the guide means shown in FIGURE 28,

FIGURE 30 is an enlarged diagrammatic plan view of the invention in which the selvage warps are crossed once for every two picks of weft,

FIGURE 31 is a view similar to FIGURE 30 in which the selvage warps are crossed once for every three picks,

FIGURE 32 is a View similar to FIGURE 30 in which the selvage warps are crossed once for every 4 picks,

FIGURE 33 is a diagrammatic end view of the selvage showing one weft thread for every crossing of warp threads,

FIGURE 34 is a diagrammatic view showing the wefts in the position they occupy in FIGURE 33 but with the warp removed, and

FIGURE 35 is a diagrammatic end view of the selvage showing the shape assumed by the wefts when three of them are in the same selvage warp shed.

FIGURES 1, 2 and 4 show a loom of general construction such as can be used to form the selvage-and having the usual frame including loomsides and 11 and arch structure 12. A dobby 13 is shown as an example of Warp controlling mechanism and will have jack levers14 connected by lifter cords 15 to harnessframes 16 for controlling the nonselvage warp threads of. the loom.. One of the jack levers,.designated I herein, is not connected to a harness frame-but is reserved for operation of the mechanism as will be described hereinafter and may be considered to be an actuator, or part of an actuator system.

A supply of selvage warpthreads is shown in FIGURE 4 for the right-hand part of the loom shown in FIGURE 1 and includes a spool S rotatable 'on-a fixed stud 20 and having four warp threads wound thereon for the form of the invention specifically illustrated herein. Warps 21 and 22 are respectively top and bottom noncrossing warps and the laterally deflectable crossing warps are indicated at 23- and 24. These -war-ps unwind from the spool and are passed'arounda roll 25 which may be the loom whip 1 roll. The selvage warps already mentioned move in the Stud 20 is secured in a stand 28 fastened to a stationary part 29-of the loom. A rod 30 fast with the stand 28 has secured thereto a comb 31 to separate theselvage warps. A cord 32 having one and secured to rod 30 extends around a pulley 33 fast with spool S and; has its other end connected to a spring 34 anchored on rod 30. The cord and spring prevent overrunning of the spool but permit the latter to turn. The loom has a lay 35 provided with a reed 36 which guides the shuttle 37 as it-crosses the lay to leave weft threads inthe warp shed. The matter thus far described may be of conventional form and any similar means which will supply the selvage warps-and have the equivalent of jack lever I may be used. Referring again to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that jack which move together as the jack lever rocks to the. right and then left under control of a pattern surface 42 in the usual manner for controlling the movement ofjack levers by patterns. Cord 40 passes over a pulley 43 and then on to the right to pulley 44' to which it is fastened. In a similar manner, cord 41 passes around a pulley 45 and then to a pulley 46 to which it. is fastened. The pulleys 43 and'45 are supported by the arch structure 12 in usual manner. 7

The pulleys 44 and 46 are each operatively connected to selvage forming mechanism, one at the right and the other at the left-hand side of the loom, and. since these mechanisms are similar only one of them will be described in detail, namely, the one at the right as viewed in FIG- URE 1 and connected topulley 44. V P The arch structure 12 has secured to it similar from and rear supports 50 and 51 eachformed with a horizontal slot 52.. A, shaft 53. is mounted on the supports and has the pulley 44 secured .to it, see FIGURE 15. When pulley 44 is turned due to operation of the dobby jack I, shaft 53 will turn with it.

Shaft 53 is rotatable in bearings 54 and 55 held in adjustable position along the slots 52 of supports 50 and 51. Since the fittings on supports 50 and 51 are the same except for their hand, support 50 only will be described in detail. The left-hand end'of the loom as viewed in FIG- URE 1 will be provided with supports similar to supports 50 and 51, and the description of, support 50 will suffice for both ends of the loom as well as the rear supports 51, it being understood that the pulley 44 and 46 are adjacent'to the front supports 50. V

Referring particularly to FIGURES 12-15, the bearing 54 has a screw treaded shank which extends rearwardly through slot 52 from a head 61, see FIGURE 15. A nut 62 is threaded up tightly against support 50 on shank 60, thus holding the bearing firmly in place. By loosening nut 62 the bearing can he slid along slot 52 to the desired location and the nut tightened to hold the new adjustment when this v adjustment is necessary to accommodate fabricsof different widths. Sprockets 63 and 64 and pulley 44 are secured to shaft 53 by set screws 65 as shownin FIGURE 15 T he bearing 54 hasa bushing 66 inwhichshaft 53zturns.

Also'received. by slot 52 is a secondvbearing 70 having a screw threaded shank 71 for a nut 72 which draws a shoulder 73 against the support 50, see FIGURE 15. The bearing 70 can be adjusted alongslot S2 in a'manner similar to the adjustment already described for hearing 54. A bushing 74' in bearing '70 has astub shaft 75 rotatable in it. Sprockets 76 and 77- as shown in that figure are secured to the stub shaft by set screws 7 8.

FIGURES l2 and 13 show that sprockets 64 and 77, which are the same size, mesh with a chain 79 which causes stub shaft75 to turn with shaft 53 to drive an operating system, to be described below. A chain 80 has one of its ends atta'ched'at 81 to sprocket 63 and has its other end fastened to a connector 82 the lower end of which is connected asat 83 to the upper part of a selvaging unit U, see FIGURE 3. T he lower end of unit U is connected at 84'to the upper end of a connector 85 the lower end of which is attached to-a spring 86 the lower end of whichis held in a clip 87 adjustably held along fixed rod 88' by set screw 89, see FIGURE: 1. Spring 86 exerts a downward force and tends to lower unit U but yields to permit upward movement of the unit when jack J moves to the left, FIGUREl, and may be considered as forming an actuator system jointly with the jack lever J and with the cords 40 41, pulleys 4345, pulleys 44-46, sprocket 63 and chain 80 with connectors 82 and 85. I

The operating system includes achain'95 which extends over and meshes with sprocket 76 and the vertical run of it which is close to chain 80 extends down and is attached to a connector 96 the lower end-of which is connected at 97 to a selvage warp thread deflector member. 98, see FIGURE 3, which is driven by the operating system; A

7 second connector 99'attached at 100 to the lower end of member 98 extends'downwardly and is connected at 101 to another chain 102 which extends under and meshes with an idler sprocket 103 rotatable on a stud 104 and then extends up and is fastened to a connector 105, whichv in turn is attached to a turnbuckle 106, see FIGURE 1. Another rod 107 leading upwardly from the turnbuckle is attached at 108 to the other vertical run of chain 95, see FIGURE 12. The parts just named form a closed flexible operating system for transmitting force from sprocket 76 to member 98, and the turnbuckle provides a means for keeping the several parts of the system taut.

The previously mentioned stud 104 is mounted on a fixed stand 110, see FIGURES l and 3, having a horizonmovement of the unit U so that it can be close to the selvage of cloths of diiferent widthsin the loom.

The unit U is formed essentially of three relatively V movableparts including an elongated upright carrier composed of several parts'fixed relative to each other,

the: previously mentioned warp deflecting positively moved member 93 slidable on carrier 120, and a second warp guiding slide member 121 also slidable on carrier 120 but not positively moved, being responsive rather to forces exerted on it by the crossing selvage warp threads.

Upright member 120, as shown more particularly in FIGURES 3, 5 and 8 to 11, has right and left-hand (FIGURE 5) vertical elongated elements 122 and 123 respectively, FIGURE 5, made preferably of pressed sheet metal and of U-shaped cross section, their concave parts facing each other. The wider element 122 is separated from element 123 by a vertical slot 124. Element 122, FIGURE 8, has parallel flat slides or flanges 125 and 126 which align respectively with sides or flanges 127 and 128 of element 123. The flanges are substantially parallel to each other. Each extreme end of member 120 has a head 13%) fitting between elements 122 and 123 and held in place by screws 131. The top and bottom heads are attached at 83 and 84 to connectors 82 and 85 respectively, see FIGURE 3. A thread guide 132, fast with and upstanding from each head, has a thread retainer 133 held to the guide by screw 134. The top of each guide has a peripheral groove 135 for a nondeflectable selvage warp.

Adjacent to each head is a needle support 14, see FIGURES 3, 5 and 22, fitting between the elements 122 and 123 and held to the unit by screws 141. Each support 141) is made of two parts, one of them 142 being held by the screws 141 and the other, shown at 143 in FIGURE 22, having an eye 144 and a thread shank 145 extending through a hole 146 in part 142 and having a nut 147 threaded on it. Upstanding from part 142 is a grooved needle guide 148 in which fits a needle. Each needle (to be described) passes through its eye 144 and is held in fixed position relative to members 122 and 123 when its nut 147 is tightened.

The needles 151) and 151 are alike and have thread eyes 152 for the noncrossing selvage warps and they are held about as shown in FIGURE 5 so that their ends are separated by a space 153 through which the crossing warp threads can pass. Eyelets 154 and 155 are located in the flanges 125 and 126 of side member 122, one above, the other below space 153.

The positively moved warp deflector member 98 is shown in FIGURE 11 in which part of element 122 is broken away. Member 98 has a body 160 formed with upper and lower ears 161 and 162 respectively attached to connectors 96 and 99. The body 160 has a vertical slot 163, see FIGURE 8, through which the crossing warps 23 and 24 can pass. A warp deflector plate 165 is slidable on the carrier 120 and is secured by screws 166 to member 98. Lengthwise notches or slots 167 in the vertical edges of plate 165 receive the adjacent edges of the flanges 125 and 127. Slots 167 are formed by front ridges 168 (to the left in FIGURE 11) extending the full height of plate 165, and short ridges 169 formed on short platforms 170 which stand out from the main central body of plate 165 and are in direct contact with part 160, see FIGURES 8 and 11. The slots 167 receive flanges 125 and 127 and prevent the plate 165 from being displaced laterally from carrier 120.

Plate 165 has two oblique slots 172 and 173 which are inclined toward each other and also toward the element 123, see FIGURE 11. The deflectable warp threads 23 and 24 pass, respectively, through slots 172 and 173.

The previously mentioned member 121 includes a plate 180 somewhat similar to plate 165, see FIGURE 8. Plate 180 has lengthwise ridges 181 and has platforms 182 similar to platforms 170 having overhanging ridges 183 which with ridges 181 form slots 184 which receive flanges 126 and 128 effectively prevent lateral displacement of member 121 from elements 122 and 123. Slide member 121 is distinguished from member 98 by having provision for frictional engagement with flanges 126 and 128 so it will remain where placed on carrier 120 but will be slidable along the carrier by small forces.

The frictional feature is obtained by securing a weak flat spring 185, see FIGURE 6, to plate 181) by a screw 186 tapped into one of the platforms 182. The spring is bent toward the adjacent flanges and engages them with suflicient force to retain the member 121 in any vertical position to which it is moved. The plate 180 has slots for the deflectable selvage warps inclined toward each other and also toward the wide side member 122, or inclined oppositely to the slots 172 and 173 in plate 165. These slots as viewed in FIGURE 11 are 190, upper, and 191, lower.

When a loom equipped as already described is to be set into operation, the crossing warps will be threaded as previously described, and in addition noncrossing warp 21, see FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, will pass through eyelets 154 from the rear, the right in FIGURE 4, then up over the top guide 132, fitting into groove 135, then down along needle to and through its eye 152 and then forwardly to the cloth or fabric F. In similar manner, warp 22 will pass through eyelets 155, around bottom guide 132, up along needle 151, through its eye 152 and thence to the cloth.

During operation of the loom the dobby 13 under control of the pattern 42 can cause the jack J to move from one extreme position to the other while the lay 35 is in the forward part of its motion, that is, in the left-hand part of the motion as viewed in FIGURE 4. During this part or period of the lay motion the shuttle will be out of the warp shed and the pick of weft which it has laid will be beaten up into the cloth F. This period is from approximately bottom center through front center to about top center. In the first part of the description of the operation of the loom it will be assumed that the dobby rocks jack I each beat of the loom, moving it to the left on odd numbered beats, for instance, and to the right on even numbered beats, see the lefthand parts of FIGURES 30-32. The right-hand parts of FIGURES 3032 will be described later.

In FIGURE 16 the needles 158 and 151 are shown as approaching their lowest position and the plates and nearing the upper limit of their movements. Arrows D, E and G indicate directions of motion which, however, are about to cease preparatory to reversal. Warp 23 is being raised positively by plate 165 and is in the lower left-hand end of its slot 172, and is able to assist in lifting plate 180 by being in the upper left end of slot 190. Similarly, warp 24 is to the right in slot 173 and helps to lift plate 180 by being in the right-hand upper part of slot 191. Warp 23 is to the left, FIGURE 16, and behind needle 159, and warp 24 is to the right and in front of needle 150.

When the reverse motion is occurring it will be desirable to effect a reversal in the positions of the warps 23 and 24 relatively to the needles, that is, warp 23 to be in front of needle 151 and warp 24 to be behind it.

FIGURE 17 shows the relation of the parts shown in FIGURE 16 after plate 165 has moved down a short distance from its topmost position and the needles have moved upwardly, see arrow H, a similar distance. Spring has by its frictional contact with flanges 126 and 128 held plate 180 in its high position. Plate 180 is therefore stationary as plate 165 begins its downward motion indicated by arrow K. Warps 23 and 24 have been lifted and tension created in them in part at least by the lifting tends to make these warps move down toward a central neutral position. These warps therefore remain in the bottom of their slots 172 and 173 as plate 165 moves down, but since plate 180 is held up by spring 185 the warps 23 and 24 move down to the bottom of slots 190 and 191 respectively. Those parts of warps 23 and 24 in slots 190 and 191 are therefore already placed correctly with respect to their intended positions relative to needle 151, that is, warp 23 to the right in slot 190 and warp 24 to the left in slot 191.

As plate 165 continues its downward movement plate 7 180, lagging behind it, will cause the warp 23 to move to the upper right of slot 172 and move warp 24 to the upper left of slot 173, see FIGURE 1.8. The warps are now in their desired position relative to'the plates 165 the lower warp 24, still in the left-hand ends of slots 173 and 191, will snap through the space 153 to be behind needle 151' when the parts reach the position of FIGURE 20. Further downward motion'of plates 165 and 180 will result in the snapping of'warp 23 through space 153 to be in front of needle 151 when the parts reach the position of FIGURE 21. In the latter figure warps'23 and 24are on the sides of needles 151 occupied in FIGURE 18;

the relations of the parts'shown in certain of the FIG- URES 16-21. FIGURE 8 shows the parts as represented in FIGURE 16 with the warps 23 and 24 on the left and right respectively of needle 150; FIGURE 9 shows the parts as represented in FIGURE 18 with the warps 23 and 24 still on the same sides of needles 150 but moved opposite to those they f by the slots in plates 165 and 180 to the position behind L 'the needles which they will occupy later in FIGURE 10 in front of the needles. FIGURE 9 shows those parts of warps 23 and 24 which are'between plates 165 and 180 I After the plates 165 and 180 have reached their lowest position corresponding to the highest position of the non crossing warps which are threaded through the needle eyes the shuttle will act to lay a pick, of filling through the separated pairs of warps, and the plates 165 and 180 its selvage.

. g, V V URES 30-32, will be manipulated in 'usual manner by harness frames such as 16 controlled in usual'rnanner by .the pattern surface'42. When the fabric being woven is a plain weave the warps and wefts will be arranged as shown in the left-hand part of FIGURES 30-32, the harnessesshifting all of the warpW every 'beat' or pick of the loom and the weft WT being laid by the'shuttle, one by one, each beat. V

FIGURES 30-32 each show a selvage .at the right-hand side of the fabric. These selvages always have two selvage warps above and two below each group of weft threads. Warps 21 and 22, and 23 and-24, are two pairs of selvage warps which are always on opposite sides of a weft group as shown in FIGURES 30-32. The-right-handparts of FIGURES 30-32 are'similar to the showing of FIGURE 10 of my aforesaid patent and reference can be made to that patent for a further understanding of the fabric and .The foregoing is'set forth to show mechanism by which the present invention can be operated. It is not claimed herein,:but is claimed in my copending application, Serial I I V No. 335,130, filed January 2, 1964. The present inven- The series. of sectional views, FIGURES 8-10, taken generally on line 8'-8 of FIGURE 5 show structurally tion'will be more particularly described in the matter which follows. a V V v In carrying the invention into effect the selvage warps 21-24 are manipulated in a manner different from that which has already been described hereinbefore. FIG- URES 30-32 show by way of example that the noncrossing warps 21 and 22 and the crossing warps 23 and 24will be held in open shed position for two, three or 'four successive beats of the loom; As illustrated in these figures. the fabric F is a plain weave with the regular warps 'W crossing every pick. a

In FIGURE 30, for example, the selvage warps 21-24 have crossed every two picks. For two adjacent groups '16 and 26 the selvage warps 21 and 22 are .over and the selvage warps 23 and 24 are under both wefts 201 and 202 in group 1G; In the adjacent group 2G, warps will then begin their rising motion during which the warps 23 and 24 will move reversely to the motions they had when moving downwardly. As the plates and warps 23 and 24 move upwardly the warps will pass through space 153 inthe reverse direction and. as the'warps approach the'upper end of their motion they will be in about the position shown in FIGURE 16 and the'shuttle will lay another pick of weft between the crossing andnoncrossing pairs of warps. I,

One feature of the selvage forming mecharu'smis shown in FIGURE 9, namely, that the warps 23 and 24 are substantially parallel between plates 165'and 180 when the latter plate is sliding. In my previously mentioned patent the warps approaching the front plate corresponding to plate 180 herein would be oblique to each other and at an angle and would tend to urge the slide againstthose' parts of the patented structure corresponding to flanges 126 and 128 herein. From plate 165 rearwardly to roll 25 the warps 23 and 24 may be oblique to each. other, as indicated in FIGURE 9, but this obliquity does not adversely affect slide 180, since slide 165 is moved positively by the dobby by a force amply strong to overcome frictional resistance of plate 165.

From FIGURES 16-21 it will be evident that plate 165 is moved by a force derived from the loom, as is also carrier 120 of unit U, these two moving oppositely, and it will also be evident that plate 180 will lag behind plate 165, being moved by forces derived primarily from the dobby but transmitted yieldingly through the warps 23 and 24. r

In the operation of the parts thus far described the warp threads for the nonselvage forming warps which enter into the body of the cloth, shown atW in FIG- 21 and 22 are under and the warps 23 and 24 are over both wefts 203 and 204. a

7 FIGURE 31 shows that the selvage warps have crossed every three picks. For two adjacentgroups 3G and 4G theselvage warps 21 and 22 are both over and warps 23 and 24 are both'under all three weft threads 205, 206 and 207 in group 3G. In the adjacent group 4G, the selvage warps 21 ancl22 are both under and warps '23. and 24 are both over all three weft threads 208, 209 and 210.

In FIGURE 32 the selvage warp threads have been crossed every four picks and for'two adjacent groups of weft threads 5G and 6G the selvage warps 21 and 22 are both over and selvage warps 23 and 24 are both under all four wefts 211-214 in group 5G, while in the adjacent group 6G the warps 21 and 22are both under and selvage warps 23 and 24 are both over all four wefts 215-218. The invention is. not limited to selvages with groups of two, three or four weft threads, but can include mixtures of the same, or have more wefts per shed.

' While the shed formed by the selvage warp threads is being held open for two or more picks, the ends of the wefts could become misplaced. To prevent this, holding means areprovided to hold the weft threads in position until the selvage warp shed closes; One form of holding means 15 shown-in FIGURES 23-27. FIGURES 23-25 show a stand 230 .to support a conventional temple 231 by means. of studs-232. Also attachedto stand 230 by studs 233 1s a block 234 forsupporting a weft holding means 235 which has a forwardly extending portion 236 9 are laid in the fabric F, one at a time they are inserted into slot 243 by means of a pusher indicated generally at 245.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 24, pusher 245 has an upright member 242 the upper end of which has a horizontally extending part 267 which has a V-shaped opening 269 at its forward end. Member 242 is pivotally connected at its lower end by a stud 248 journalled in a bracket 253 which is fixed to the lay 35. Stud 248 extends through the bracket 253 and has afiixed at its extending end a lever 255 with a cam roll 257. Pusher 245 is normally held at its full line position as shown in FIGURE 24 by a spring 259 when the lay 35 is at its front center position. When the lay swings back towards back center, towards the right in FIGURE 24, roll 257 is urged upward by incline 261 of cam surface 263 of a stationary bracket 265 causing pusher 245 to swing back behind the reed 36 to the dotted line position in FIGURE 24. As the lay swings to the left in FIGURE 24 toward the next front center pusher 245 again assumes its full line position and in moving from the dotted line position traps the filling WT in its V-shaped opening 269 urging the filling into slot 243 of holder 235.

As each weft is laid, it is cut by a cutter 246 subsequent to being inserted in the slot 243 thereby leaving a tail of weft T depending from the holding means. The rearward ends of members 240 and 241 are so shaped that together they form a V-shaped opening 247 effective to receive weft threads WT. Members 240 and 241 act as two opposing jaws which grip the wefts WT as they enter the slot 243 through the opening 247. To insure against the wefts slipping back towards the rear of the loom, opposing edges 24? and 250 of members 240 and 241 respectively are provided with serrations 251 which are so shaped as to allow the wefts to move forwardly only, the serrations 251 being shown in detail in FIGURE 27. As the cloth F moves forwardly the weft tails T advance along the slot 243 until they reach the wider portion 244 which allows them to be released from the holding means. If desired a flat weft deflector member 254 can be welded to extension 240, and shaped substantially as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 25. Deflector 254 is spaced from the holding means as indicated in FIGURE 26 by reference character 256 and acts to deflect the weft ends or tails T out of the path of the cutter 246 to prevent the ends from being cut and dragged into the cloth to show up as a defect.

A second form of holding means is shown in FIGURES 28 and 29 and is generally indicated by the reference character 258. The forwardly extending portion 260 of holding means 258 is mounted in the same manner as holding means 235 but rearward extension 262 cooperates with an extension 264 welded thereto as at 266 and together they form a holding means as shown in FIG- URES 28 and 29. As shown in those figures extensions 262 and 264 are disposed in scissor-like fashion and at their rearward ends are so shaped as to form a V-shaped opening 268 in a horizontal direction. The vertex of opening 268 is the point where the top edge 270 of extension 262 and the bottom edge 272 of extension 264 cross. From this point forward said edges 270 and 272 are further apart forming a vertical slot 274 which is very narrow at the vertex and widens toward the forward part of the holding means. As the weft WT enters the opening 268 it is pushed into the vertical slot 274 and after being cut the weft tail is then deflected downwardly by edge 272 as it advances forwardly with the cloth. Upon further advance of the cloth the weft ends or tails T move along slot 274 until they reach the wider portion of the slot where they are released from the holding means.

In order to show the advantage of the present invention over the selvage shown in my previously mentioned patent a specific example will be described, namely, one in which three weft threads are held in a single warp shed. Three successive picks of weft in single sheds according 10 to the aforesaid patent are shown herein in FIGURE 33, and FIGURE 34 shows the three picks of FIGURE 33 with the warp threads removed. By contrast the three picks are then shown in one shed in FIGURE 35.

In FIGURE 33 the wefts A, B and C are each in a separate warp shed and the warps, shown diagrammatically, are indicated at x and y. The lines x and y represent diagrammatically the selvage warps set forth on sheet three of the drawings of my prior patent. The warps x and y cross between adjacent wefts and keep them out of contact by a distance determined by the thickness of the warps.

FIGURE 34 shows the wefts in the position they occupy in FIGURE 33 but with the warps removed and showing the spaces around the wefts available for them to move into. In FIGURE 34 the area avqe plus the two end semi-circles represent the space assignable to the three wefts. When the wefts A, B and C are deformed by warps under tension they can flow or at least move into spaces a, f. ,1, a J. v, at. r-

FIGURE 35 shows the shape assumed by the wefts when all three of them are in one shed and are held together in frictional engagement by warp threads xa and ya. The tension in these latter warps causes the wefts to take on a cross sectional shape as indicated at Aa, Ba and Ca The areas occupied by wefts Aa, Ba and Ca are nearly rectangular and have vertical dimensions much less than the distance between lines av and eq, FIGURE 34, or the diameter of the wefts. The narrow vertical areas bgid and knpm, FIGURE 34, exist due to the absence of the warp threads x and y :and are substantially filled by wefts Aa, Ba and Ca.

It will thus be seen that by placing two or more wefts in a single shed the selvage will be thinner and will not be sheared off in the finishing operation. The example chosen to illustrate and describe the invention has three wefts per shed, but the advantage of the invention will be present if two or any larger number of wefts are placed in a warp shed, three examples being shown in FIGURES 30, 31 and 32.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention provides a selvage having two or more wefts held in a warp shed formed by four warp threads which preferably comprise two crossing and two noncrossing selvage warps. The weft threads are sufficiently deformable so that they can be forced close together by the selvage warps in such manner that they substantially fill the space enclosed by the warps and form a mass which is thinner and more compact than is possible with the same number of wefts manipulated by the previously known art. By placing two or more wefts in a warp shed, less warp, and therefore less total bulk of yarn, will be present due to the fact that there will be fewer crossings per given number of wefts than if they were laid according to the prior art. Mechanism is also provided to hold two or more wefts in an open warp shed between successive crossings of the selvage warps. This mechanism is simple in construction and has a rearwardly opening slot to receive the wefts and notches or teeth to prevent rearward movement of the wefts after they have entered the slot.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. In a selvage forming mechanism for a loom in which the cloth moves forwardly as it is woven, a reciprocating harness actuator system, a selvage forming unit operatively connected to said system, a pair of crossing and a pair of noncrossing selvage warp threads, said system and unit effective to form an open shed in said warp threads for a plurality of successive picks of the loom, the loom effective to lay a plurality of weft threads one at a time in said open shed, means to cut each weft thread after it has been placed in said open shed, holding means for holding each of said weft threads prior to cutting and for holding said plurality of weft threads sub- 7,1 sequent to cutting thereof during the time said shed is open, said system and unit effective thereafter to close 'said .shed to hold said wefts' by said warp threads ,and

the cloth thereafter moving said plurality of weft threads away from saidholding means.

2. The mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein the weft, holding means is a rigid memben'the rearward end of whichis in two parts, said two parts being spacedfrom one another to form'a narrow slot between which said weft threads can be placed, and said slots being effective to hold a plurality of said weft threads until said shed formed by said selvage warp thread closes.

4. The mechanism set, forth in claim 1 wherein said weft holding'means is a rigid member, the forward end of which is made up of two substantially flat members which are disposed toward each other in scissor-like fashion, said flat members being spaced from each other to form a substantially narrow slot'eifective :to receive and hold said weft threads until said shed formed by said selvage warp threads closes. V

5. The mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein the means to cut.

weft holding means is a guide plate with a narrow slot 'at 7 its rearward end thereby forming apair of opposing jaws between which the weft thread-s can be inserted and held until saidshed formed by said selvage warp threads closes.

6. The mechanism set forth in claim 5 wherein the rearward end of the slot is adjacent to the point where the weft is laid and the slotis narrow and of sufficient from'said slot as said cloth continues to move forwardly.

V 7. The mechanism set forthfin claim 5 wherein said jaws have notches set into theiredgesat such an angle as to prevent the weft threads from being pulled out towards the rear of said weft holding means.

8. In a sel-vage forming mechanism for a cloth weaving loom having a reciprocating harness actuator system, a selvage forming unit: operatively connected to said system, a pair of crossing and a pair of ,noncrossing selvage warp. threads, said. system and unit effective to form an open :shed in said warp threads for a plurality of successive picks of the loom, the loom effective to lay a plurality of a weft thread one at a time in said; open shed,

.means to'cutaeach weft thread after it has been placed in said open shed, said means tocut having a limited vertical range of motion, holding means for said weft threads being situated between said means to cut and said cloth having afsubstantially horizontal slot at its rearward end effective to hold each of said weft threads prior to being cut, said cut wefts having short extensions between said holding meansand said means to cut said holding means also effective for holding a plurality of cut weft's'duiing the time said shedisopen, said shed and unit effective thereafter to close said 'shedsto hold said wefts' by said warp threads, deflecting means-on said holding means effective subsequent, to said cutting to deflect said short extensions'to positions beyondfsaid rang'eof motion of said 9. The mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein there is provided a thread pusher on a lay efiective tomove each weft into said holding means.

10. The mechanism v set forth '11 claim 9 wherein said pusher is pivoted on the lay and the latter on its forward motion cooperates with a cam to' rock the pusher in a direction to cause it to push the weft into theholding means. a

7 References Cited hylthe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,637,351

5/53 *Cooper 139'-383 2,918,945 4 12/59 Hall p 139-54 2,918,949 ,12/59 Hall 139383 3,047,027 7/62 .Svaty et al. 139-54 3,111,966. 11/6-3 Demuth 139122 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,182,295 1/59 France.

DONALD w. PARKER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM FOR A LOOM IN WHICH THE CLOTH MOVES FORWARDLY AS IT IS WOVEN, A RECIPROCATING HARNESS ACTUATOR SYSTEM, A SELVAGE FORMING UNIT OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SYSTEM, A PAIR OF CROSSING AND A PAIR OF NONCROSSING SELVAGE WARP THREADS, SAID SYSTEM AND UNIT EFFECTIVE TO FORM AN OPEN SHED IN SAID WARP THREADS FOR A PLURALITY OF SUCCESSIVE PICKS OF THE LOOM, THE LOOM EFFECTIVE TO LAY A PLURALITY OF WEFT THREADS ONE AT A TIME IN SAID OPEN SHED, MEANS TO CUT EACH WEFT THREAD AFTER IT HAS BEEN PLACED IN SAID OPEN SHED, HOLDING MEANS FOR HOLDING EACH OF SAID WEFT THREADS PRIOR TO CUTTING AND FOR HOLDING SAID PLURALITY OF WEFT THREADS SUBSEQUENT TO CUTTING THEREOF DURING THE TIME SAID SHED IS OPEN, SAID SYSTEM AND UNIT EFFECTIVE THEREAFTER TO CLOSE SAID SHED TO HOLD SAID WEFTS BY SAID WARP THREADS AND THE CLOTH THEREAFTER MOVING SAID PLURALITY OF WEFT THREADS AWAY FROM SAID HOLDING MEANS. 